remde



May 26, 1931.

5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR IE NEF ATTORNEY y 1931- E. H. REMDE INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed Oct. 29, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 6, 1931 EH. REMDE INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed Oct. 29, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet um HE ATTORNEY E. H. REMDE INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 29, 1928 INVENTQR May 26, 1931. E. H. REMDE INDUSTRIAL TRUQK Filed Oct. 29, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1931 umreo STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD H. REMDE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ABSIGNOR TO THE ZBAHEB-BAULANG OOH- PANY, OI CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO INDUSTRIAL TRUCK v Application filed we; so, was. Serial in. 815,780.

This invention relates to an industrial truck adapted to lift and transport loads in a'ready manner. v

One object of the invention is to provide for a truck of this character an im roved load clamping mechanism -of relative y simple construction but-of great strength and in which the clamping device has a relatively lon movement toward and from the load to facilitate the loading and unloading operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved truck of this character having a clamping device capable of adjustment over a wide range, whereb loads differing greatly in size may be eld on the truck.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a truck of this character an improved load clamping mechanism having a clamping element mounted to operate in a substantially rectilinear direction when engaging and holding the load.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which myinvention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a truck embodying my invention, the elevatin member being partly raised but not loade Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevat on, showing the position of the parts followlng the loading of a load on the elevating member.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation looking at the front end of the truck, the clamping mechanism being shown in clamping position.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the upper portion of the elevating frame structure.

to the gussets2 and lowframe portion 1?) ed and steerable, being mounted to swing in opposite directions to effect steering about a common center. The steering connections between the wheels are indicated at 7 and.

such connections are connected to and operated by a devlce, such as a lever, shown at 8.

'9 indicates a source of power supply, such as suitable storage batteries, supported on the frame portion 1a and electrically connected to an electric motor (not shown),

which in turn, through a suitable mechanism, drives the wheels 5. The batteries may be enclosed in a sheet metal casing 10. The frame portion 1a includes a pair of uprights 11, wh1ch carry at their lower ends the operatives driving 1platform (not shown) and which carry at t eir upper ends supports 12, the latter in turn being connected by tie members 13 to the guide channels 3 to brace the latter. The operatives platform'is preferably surrounded by aguard 14; 15 indicates a controller for controlling the supply of current to the traction motor, the drum of the controller being connected by a linkage 16 to an operating lever 17. 18 indicates as an entirety a hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the elevating member 4. v This mechanism is preferably of the type employing one or more. (for example, two) fiexible members, such as wire cables 19, 20, which wind on and OH drums at their inner ends and which are operatively connected at their outer ends to the elevating member 4. The winding drums are mounted in casings (one being indicated at 21 in Fig. 1), which are supported on the uprights 11; and the drums are driven through a suitable power transmitting mechanism by a motor 22. The motor 22 is supplied with current from the batteries 9, such supply being regulated or shutofi by a controller 23. The

flexible members 19, 20, lead from the drums to and around sheaves 24, 24a, loosely mounted on a shaft 25 which is secured to a longitudinally extending shaft 25a trunnioned at its front and rear ends in a support 26, the latter being ivoted on'a transverse shaft 26a supporte on the inner face of a cross member 27 at the upper ends of the guide channels 3. From the sheaves 24, 24a, the flexible members lead downwardly, their lower free ends being connected to a clamping mechanism 28, and operating therethrough to raise and lower the elevating menr her 4. The clamping mechanism will be later referred to. The supporting means for the sheaves 24, 24a, form part of a take-up mechanism to be later referred to.

The elevating member comprises pairs of v inner and outer plates 29, 30, the plates of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of one of said guide channels. Each of the outer plates 30 carries a bar 31 and this bar and the adjacent outer plate 30 support a pair of upper and lower shafts 32 loosely carrying flanged rollers 33 which roll on the opposite side walls of the adjacent guide channel 3. The shaft for each upper roller 33 is also supported in the adjacent inner plate 29.

Each shaft 32 is provided with a sleeve bushing for the adjacent shaft. The pairs of plates 2930, 2930, are rigidly held in spaced relation by ((1) channels 3011, one between each pair of plates 29, 30, and riveted thereto (these channels being of curvilinear shape and serving as supports, as will later appear) and (6) cross members 34, 35, 36, the former being provided with sleeves between the plates and its ends carrying nuts 37 tightened against the outer plates. The outer plates preferably extend forwardly beyond the free end of the low frame portion and the cross members 35, 36 connect these ends together. This form of construction permits the load lifting and carrying portion 4a of the elevating member 4 to be removably carried on the cross members 35, 36, whereby such portion will be outwardly of or beyond the wheels 6 and be capable of being moved downwardly into close relation to the floor. In the form of construction shown, the load lifting and carrying portion comprises three arms 38, which may be connected together, if desired. Each arm is of angle form, its vertical leg carrying at its upper end a hook 38a adapted to removably engage the upper cross member 35 and arranged to rest against the lower cross member 36, these parts being arranged to support the horizontal legs of the arms horizontally. By extending the rods 35, 36, continuously between the plates 30, the arms 38 may be adjusted laterally thereon and a greater or less number of arms in any desired spaced relation may be used.

Of the clamping mechanism 28, 39 indicates a pair of vertical plates swingably connected by pairs of parallel links or levers 40, 41, to the elevating member 4. The links 40, 41, are pivot-ally connected at their outer ends to the plates 39 by rods 42, 43, which extend between the plates and connect them together. The upper ends of the plates 39 are connected by a rod 44, the plates being held in spaced relation by a sleeve on the rod 44 engaging at their ends the plates 39 or hearing elements 44a and sleeves on the rods 42, 43, engaging at their ends the links 40, 41. The inner ends of each pair of links 40, 41, are fulcrumed on shafts 45, 46, supported at their opposite ends by and extending between the adjacent pair of plates 29, 30. As shown, the lower link 41 of each pair extends inwardly beyond its fulcrum 46 and forms the element to which the adjacent flexible member 19 or 20 is connected, so that the pull of the latter will serve to (a) swing the links downwardly at their outer ends, in the manner to be later set forth and (6) act through the clamping mechanism to raise the elevating member. By reason of the fact that the plates 39 are connected to the elevating member 4 by parallel links, they will be maintained in vertical position when swinging downwardly and upwardly due to pull of the flexible members 19, 20, or the relief of. such pull, as will later appear. 47 indicates as an entirety means normally tending to swing the pairs of links 40, 41, upwardly, whereby the clamping device 48, which is carried by the plates 39, will be maintained in its upper or non-clamping position except when, due to the weight of a load on the elevating member 4, the pull of the flexible members 19, 20, overcomes the tension of the means 47 and swings the pairs of links 40, 41, about their fulcrums 45, 46, and effects clamping. engagement of this mechanism with the load A (see Fig. 2). I preferably provide a yieldable tension means 47 for each pair of links 40, 41; the following description of one thereof will sufiice for both.

. Extending outwardly from each link 41 and through an enlarged'opening 49 formed in the adjacent inner plate 29 is a stud shaft 50. 51 is a hollow boss rotatably mounted on the shaft 50 in the space between the plates 29, 30. On its lower side, the boss is provided with an annular seat 51a and formed centrally of the latter with a threaded opening in which a bolt or pin 52 is mounted. The bolt extends downwardly and through an opening formed in the support 30a, the opening being large enough to permit the bolt to freely slide and also swing or swivel relative to the support. The free end of the bolt 52 carries a head or nut which engages the lower side of the support 30a to limit the upward movement of the shaft 50 and hence limit the upward swinging movement of the links 40, 41. 53 indicates a coiled spring surrounding the bolt 52 and seated between the seat 51a and support- 30a, the spring yleld to such pull, when the weight is in-,

creased due-to a load A being positioned on the elevating member, and permit the links to swing downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. 54 indicates a bracket extending outwardly from the plates 39 and carrying at its outer end a trunnioned nut in which the screw threaded shank 56 of the clamping device 48 is adjustablymounted.

, The bracket 54 comprises a pair of bars 54a having their inner portions disposed on the outer faces of the plates 39 and connected thereto by the following devices: a rod 57 removably extending through openings formed in the bars and openings 57a formed in the plates 39 and held against endwise movement by cotter pins 58 or equivalent devices and also by pins or projections 59 secured to the inner ends of the bars 54a and removably fitting into aligned notches 60 formed in the inner edges of the plates 39, the pins 59 being held in the notches by the rod 57 The bars 54a are bent into converging relation, their free ends 54a being disposed parallel to each. other and spaced to receive between them the nut 55. The nut 55 is provided with trunnions which rock in aligned openings formed in the ends 5411', cotter pins 61 and Washers being'provided on the ends of the trunnions to prevent lateral movement of the bars 54a. The upper end of the shank 56 may carry a crank device 62, whereby the shank may be rotated; the lower end of the shank carries the load engaging device 48, which preferably comprises a relatively large circular disk. 8

It will be noted that the plates 39 are formed with a plurality of aligned openings 57a and a plurality of aligned notches 60 from top to bottom thereof, each two aligned openings being in a predetermined relation to two aligned notches, and that the plates 39 may extend vertically any desired distance, this being possible by reason of the fact that the plates 39 are swingably mounted on the elevating member by means of parallel links. pins 59 may be disengaged from the adjacent aligned notches 60 and inserted in any other aligned notches and the rod 57 posi-' By removing the rod 57, the.

A varying greatly in size. Where an intermediate ad ustment is required or desired,

the shank 56 may be rotated in the nut 55.

for instance, (a) to permit the clamping device 48 to accommodate itself to any unevenness in the upper surface of the load and (b) where the device is in the path of movement of some upwardly extending part of the load, to permit the device to ride such part when loading or unloading takes place. To insure the return of the shank 56 to its normal or vertical position I provide a spring operated means connected to the nut 55'andso constructed that a spring is put under tension when the nut 55 trunnions in either direction and thus normally tends to return the nut to its normal position. The return means just referred to comprises an arm 63 fixed at its outer end to the lower side of the nut 55 and pivotally connected at its inner end to a rod 63a. The rod 63a extends upwardly and has sliding and pivotal support in the walls of an opening 64 formed in an angle piece 64a fixed to one of the bars 54a. Between the angle piece and a collar 65 adjustably fixed to the upper end of the rod 63a is a coiled spring 66, and between the angle piece and a collar 65a adjustably fixed to the lower portion of the rod 63a is another coiled spring 66a. When the nut 55 rocks or trunnions in either direction, the rod 63a swings about its point. of

engagement with the wall of theopening 64 and also slides endwise, thereby compressing one of the springs 66, 66a so thatupon the freeingof the shank 5601' device 48, the

' spring that is compressed will operate through the adjacent collar,-rod 63a and arm 63 to return these parts to normal position.

to th'eadjacent guide channel. The rod 67 carries adjustable tappets 70 (one being shown in Fig. 4) arranged near the upper and lower ends of the rod and adapted to be engaged by a plate 71 carried by the elevating member when the latter reaches 01'' approaches the end of its movement in either direction to move the rod 67 endwise. .The rod 67, when operated as just described, swings the bell crank 68, which in turn, through a rod 72, opens a suitable switch,

mounted within the casing 73, to automatically open the circuit to the motor 22 and stop the movement of the elevating member 4. The switches within the casing 73 may be of the construction shown in Letters Patent No. 1,726,717, dated Sept. 3, 1929. 74 indicates as an entirety a take-up mechanism for automatically taking up any slack which may occur in the flexible members 19, 20, at any time. No claim'is made to this mechanism or its connection with the cut-out mechanism since the same forms the subject matter of'a co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 281,704, filed May -31, 1928,

7 5 indicates devices carried by each plate 30 and movable in close relation to the inner walls of the adj acent channel 3. The devices 7 5 serveto maintain the rollers 32 in engagement with the guides 3 should the elevating member 4 engage an obstruction in its descending movement.

Fig. 1 shows the elevating member'in an 'elevated position or in the position it occupies when moving upwardly without a load on' the load lifting and carryin portion 4a, and when the elevating mem er is in this position or is being moved upwardly or downwardly without a load the springs 53 maintain the clamping mechanism in its elevated position. Figure 5 shows the truck in position ready to engage a load A, and,

upon the closing of the circuit to the motor 22 the pull of the flexible members 19, 20,

will swing the clamping mechanism. to the position shown in Fig. 2, causing the clamping device 48 to engage and clamp the load, and if the pull on the flexible members 19, 20 is continued they will operate through the clamping mechanism to lift both the elevating member and load to the position desired, whereupon the truck may be driven to the place of discharge. Upon the paying out of the flexible members 19, 20, the elevating member will be lowered until the load rests upon the floor or other support, the effect of which is to release the clamping mechanism and permit it to swing to its upper position.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from .the spirit and scope thereof.

My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting,

-The present invention constitutes an improvement upon my inventions disclosed in co-pending applications Ser. Nos. 96,550 filed March 22, 1926 and 138,763, filed Sept. 30, 1926 for which reason no claim is made herein broadly to an industrial truck having a load engaging member and clamping mechanism, as that subject-matter in its broader aspects is claimed in the, aforesaid applications. V

What I claimis:

1. In apparatus of the'class described, the combination of a wheel mounted frame, an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, a clamping mechanism mounted on said elevating member and comprising a member pivotally mounted on said elevating member, a support carried by the outer portion of said pivoted member, a bracket mounted on said support, a clamping device carried by said bracket, and means connected to said pivoted member and arranged to operate said clamping mechanism and raise said elevating member when the latter engages a load.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a wheel mounted frame, an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, a clamping mechanism mounted on said elevating member and comprising a movable member, a support carried by the outer portion of said movable member and extending vertically, a bracket detachably connected at its inner end to said support for bodily adjustment vertically thereon, a clamping device adjustably carried by said bracket, and means connected to said movable member and arranged'to operate said clamping mechanism and raise said elevating member when the latter engages a load.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a wheel mounted frame, an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, a clamping mechanism mounted on said elevating member and comprising a movable member, a support carried by the outer portion of said movable member, a bracket mounted on said support and extending outwardly therefrom, a member pivotally carried by the outer end of said bracket and depending therefrom, a clamping device carried by the lower end of said depending member, and means connected to said movable member and arranged to operate said clamping mechanism and raise said elevating member when the latter engages a load. a

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a wheel mounted frame, an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, a clamping mechanism mounted on said elevating member and comprising a movable member,a support carried by the outer portion of said movable member, a bracket mounted on said support,'a nut carried by the outer end of said bracket, a clamping device having a threaded shank adj ustably mounted in said nut, andmeans connected to said movable member and arranged tooperate said clampin .mechanism and raise said elevating mem er when the latter engages a load.

III

said bracket and connected to said de-/normally vice normally tending to maintain said device in mid position, and means connected to said movable member and arranged to operate said clam ing mechanism and raise said elegating mem er when the latter engages a loa 6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a wheel mounted frame, an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, a clamping mechanism mounted on said elevating member and comprisinga movable member, a support carried by the outer portion of said movable member, a bracket mounted on said support, a nut pivotally mounted on said bracket, a clamping device having a threaded shank adjustably mounted in said nut, and means connected to said movable member and arranged to operate said clamping mech anism and raise said elevating member when the latter engages a load.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a wheel .mounted frame, an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, a clamping mechanism mounted on said elevating, member and comprising a movable member, a support carried by the outer portion of said movable member, a a bracket mounted on said support, a nut swingably mounted on said bracket and a clamping -device'having a threaded shank adjustably mounted in said nut, means normally tending to maintain said nut in mid position, and means connectedto said movable memberv and arranged to operate said clamp-ing mechanism and raise said elevating member when the latter engages a load. 8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a wheel mounted frame, an elevating member mounted to .move upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, a load clamping mechanism on sald elevating member, said mechanism com-' prising a support, a pair of upper and lower links pivotally connected to said support and elevating member on horizontal axes and disposed in parallel relation and a load-clamping device carried by said support, and means connected to one of said links and arranged to swing them downwardly and raise said elevating member when the latter engages a load.

recliner 9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of awheel mounted frame, an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and-downwardly relative to said frame, a loadgiclamping*"mechanism on said elevating member, said mechanism comprising a support, a pair of upper and lower links pivotally connected to said support and elevating member on-horizontal axes and disposed in parallel relation and a load-clamping device carried by said support, means tending to swing said links upwardly, and means connected to one of said links and arranged to swing them: downwardly and raise said elevating member when the latter engages a load.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a wheel mountedfframe, an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, a load clamping mechanism on said elevating member, said mechanism compris ing "a support, a pair of links pivotally connected to said support and elevating member and disposed in parallel relation, a bracket movably mounted on said support to adjust its outer. portion vertically and a load clampingdevice carried by the outer end of said bracket, means normally tending to swing said links upwardly, and means connected to one of said links and varranged to swing them downwardly and raise said elevating member when' the latter engages a load.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a wheel mounted frame, an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to saidframe,a load clamping mechanism on said elevating member, said mechanism comprising a support, a pair of links pivotally connected to said support and elevating member and disposed in parallel relation, a bracket having its inner end adjustably connected to said support, and extending outwardly therefrom, a nut carried by the outer'portion of said bracket and a clamping device having a threaded shank adjustably mounted in said nut, means normally tending to swing said links upwardly, and means connected to one of said links and arranged to swing them downwardly and raise said ele- 1vatjing member when the latter engages a 12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a wheel mounted frame,

an elevating member mounted to move upwardly and downwardly relative to said frame, a load clamping mechanism on said elevating member, said mechanism comprising a. pair of plates, connected in spaced relation, a pair of links pivotally connected to each of said plates and said elevating member on horizontal axes and-disposed in parallel relation whereby said plates' are maintained vertical during swinging movement of said links, a bracket connected at its inner portion to said plates, a load clamping device depending from the outer end of said bracket, means normally tending to swing said links upwardly, and means connected to one of said links and arranged to swing them downwardly and raise said elevatiing member when the latter engages a 10a In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

EDWARD H. REMDE. 

